Air-compressing wave-motor



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. LEONARD. AIR GOMPRESSING WAVE MOTOR.

No. 606,561. Patented June 28 1898.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2. J.'H. LEONARD. AIR GOMPRESSING WAVE MOTOR."

N0. 606,561. Patented June 28-, 1-898.

(No Model.)

' V 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. H. LEONARD. AIR GOMPRESSING WAVE MOTOR.

No. 606,561; I Patented June 28, 1898.

flttorneys n: NORRIS wzmzs cu. mom-uma. WASNINGTON, 0:6

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. LEONARD, OF LEONARD STATION, CALIFORNIA.

AIR-COMPRESSIING WAVE-MOTOR.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,561, dated June 28, 1898. 7

Application filed June 18,1897. Serial No. 641,246. (roman full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an apparatus which is designed to utilize the movements of waves or swell of the ocean, and it is especially designed to so utilize it by the means of aircompressing pumps and other connected mechanism.

It consists in details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my motor. Fig. 2 shows a series of air-receivers. Fig. 3 is a detail of the chain-operating device. Fig. 4 is an end view of the motor. .Fig. 5is a plan view of a portion of the regulating device. Fig. 6 is avertical section of the same on line y y of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the receiver S. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the chamber T and a part of the pipe U. Fig. 9 is a detail of a portion of the rackbar, showing the oppositely-ratcheted surfaces.

In my invention I employ a float A of any suitable or desired construction which will give the greatest amount of buoyancy. This float is fulcrumed, as shown at B, to aframework 0, and this framework is guided so that it'may be made to rise and fall within an exterior permanently-fixed framework D. The object of this is to'keep thefloat at all times in proper relation with the surface of the water as the tide rises and falls, so as to enable it to operate at all stages of the tide. The mechanism by which the raising and lowering of the movable framework 0 is'accomplished will be more fully explained hereinafter. In the present case I have shown the free end of the float connected by a pit- 1 man E with'a slide F movable between suitable guides G, as shown. H is a cross-headfixedi to the slide F and carrying piston-rods I, extending into the,

cylinders J, where they connect with pistons fitting within the cylinders, so that the rise.

and fall of'the float will be communicated through these connecting parts with the pistons and cause them to reciprocate. This reciprocation in the present case is made to operate the pistons so as to pump air. It will be manifest that there may be as many of these cylinders connected with the float as is found-desirable or convenient, and they may be also so connected as to be actuated by the downward as well as the upward movement of the float, and, if preferred, one set of cylinders may be operated by the upward and the other by the downward movement of the float, the latter being more effective because the weight of the float is utilized as the' wave or swell recedes. The air is compressed to a certain degree :within these cylinders and is delivered therefrom by pipes K, which lead to other cylinders L, suitably or conveniently fixed with relation to the first-named cylinders J.

In the present case I have shown the cylinders J arranged vertically above the movable end of the float, having an essentially direct connection therewith, and for convenience the cylinders L are shown arranged horizontally upon the frame or platform 0. These cylinders have the usual pistons, piston-rods, and connecting-rods, which extend to and are connected with the crankwheels M, fixed upon a short shaft having a sprocket-wheel N fixed to it. A chain 0 passes from this sprocketwheel over another sprocket-wheel P, situated above, as shown, and the chain passes and is "guided between the guides G, in which the slide F travels. There is a back to these slides G, against which the chain lies and by which it is supported. The connection between the pitman E and the slide F carries a pawl R, which is tilted alternately back and forward by the rise and fall of the float acting through the pitman E, so that when the float rises, as herein shown, the pawl is pressed back, so as to engage with the links of the chain 0, and the chain is thus caused to advance with each reciprocation of the slide caused by movements of the float. This movement of the chain is communicated to the crank-wheels N and through them to the pistons of the pumps L.

The pipes K, leading from the pumps J, fur,- nish the air in a partially-compressed condition to the pumps L, and it is again condensed by these pumps, which may have a correspondingly-smaller diameter, and discharged through pipes L into a water-jacketed receiver S, Fig. 7, and from this receiver the compressed air is passed into a vertical chamber T through a pipe U. The chamber T is here shown as a cylindrical one, vertically disposed and fixed to the main immovable frame D, while the pipe U passes up through stulling-boxes at each end of the cylinder or chamber T, and being connected with the movable frame or platform it is slidable through the chamber T, making a tight joint through each of the stuffing-boxes. The pipe has openings 10, Fig. 8, made through its sides within the chamber T, so that the air may escape from the pipe into the chamber, and the chamber is of such length as to allow of necessary vertical movements of the pipe with the movable frame without exposing the openings exterior to the chamber. This construction will thus allow the air to pass at all times from the pumps and intermediate rcceivers in to the chamber T and thence through a discharge pipe or passage V to the ultimate receivers. These receivers are intended to store the air with a constant pressure in each one. If this pressure is intended to be as much as, for instance, two hundred pounds, there is a valve mechanism \V, situated between the first receiver X and the next one X, having a spring or weight pressure sufficient to retain it in closed condition until the full pressure of two hundred pounds has been reached. Now if the same pressure has been reached within the second chamber X it will be manifest that the pressure in the first chamber would have to reach a point which would overcome the tension of the air in the second chamber, as well as that of the weight or spring which is also acting upon the valve, thus greatly increasing the pressure in the first chamber before it can be increased in the second. My valve therefore is made of a balanced construction, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the airn'essure from the second receiver X acts between the two parts 10 of the valve and exactly balances the pressure of the air in the second receiver. It will therefore be only necessary to raise the pressure in the first receiver to a point exceeding the tension of the closing weight or spring, when the air will open the valve and pass through into the second receiver, and so on, the pressure in each of the receivers being approximately the same, and it is increased through the whole series in the same manner.

In order to keep the float in proper relation with the risingand falling tide, l have shown shafts a, journaled across each end of the movable frame 0 and engaging with vertical racks 7), upon the stationary frame D. Other toothed wheels 0 are fixed upon the same shafts, and horizontally above these, upon the movable frame 0, is a slidably-guided rack-bar (Z. nis raek-baris ratcheted in opposite directions, as shown in Figs. 5 and 0, the teeth upon its lower surface engaging the pinions c, and teeth 0, upon its upper surface, adapted to be engaged by pawls c, which are fnlerumed alongside of the racks and engage the upper teeth, so as to prevent the rack being moved in either direction as long as the water is at a suitable level to allow the float to properly act. As soon as the float begins to rise or fall by the action of the tide it acts upon the rack-bar to turn the shafts a through the pinions c and through the vertical racks and pinions to raise or depress the movable frame with relation to the fixed frame. The mechanism by which this is accomplished is automatic and is constructed and operated as follows: fare lever-arms extending upwardly from the fnlerumed end of the float, so that as the float rises and falls these arms will be caused to oscillate backward and forward, the upper ends moving parallel with the rackbar (1. 3y the side of this rack-bar are slidable bars g, the ends of which approach each other from opposite ends of the framework, leaving room enough between them for the oscillation of the levers f. \Vhen the tide rises, for instance, the float being caused to swing upwardly to a greater degree, the le' vers f will strike against the ends of two of the sliding bars g when moving in that direction and will force these bars along parallel with the rack-bar (7. Upon the surfaces of the slides g are inclined planes 7L, and the pawls c, which normally hold the racks in position by engaging the oppositelyfaeing teeth 011 the top of the rack-bar, will be lifted by the inclines on the bars 9, with which the levers f make contact, so that no further obstruction is offered to the movement of the rack-bar in that direction. The continued movement of the sliding bars ,1, caused by the contact of the levers f, carries the pawls i, which have hitherto been held out of contact with the rack-bar, to a point where they will engage the side teeth of the raclcbar, being actuated by spring j, as shown, and as they thus engage the teeth of the rack-bar the latter will be pushed along, thusaeting through the shafts a, the pinions, and vertical rackbars to raise the movable frame a short distance, depending upon the distance to which the levers f move the slides g.

The upper ends of the levers f, when they contact with the ends of the slides y will cause the hook-shaped latches It: to swing inwardly behind the levers, and thus hold the levers temporarily locked to the sl iding bars 1.

The hooks it, which are fnlerumed to the slides g, are so disposed that they will swing outwardly through open slots 1, made in the top bars of the movable frame and parallel with the slides g, but as soon as the slides are moved away from these open slots the backs of the hooks 7; will contact with the edges k of the open slots, and thus swing the hooks in behind the levers, as before described. This will cause a partial reciprocation of the slides g, being moved baekwardly by the first contact of the levers f and again retracted as the lovers swing in the opposite direction until the contact of the hook-levers with the open slot Z again disengagcs them from the levers. f. This then allows the leversfto again swing freely until the tide has again .reached the point where it is necessary for a further movement of the movable frame. In this manner the raising and lowering or falling of the frame is automatically elfected.

The movable frame may be counterbalanced, if desired, by'weights suspended by balance-cords passing over pulleys m, journaled in the upper part of the main frame, as

, shown in Fig. 4.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, i s

1. In a wave-motor, a float hinged or journaled at one end to a vertically-adjustable framework and having the other end free to move up and down by the action of the tide, air-compressing cylinders situated in line above the movable end of the float, guides and slides with which the piston-rods'are connected and a pitman connecting the slide directly with the float, other. compressingcylinders situated upon the movable frame, having pistons, slides and connecting-rods uniting the cylinder-pistons with crankwheels journaled upon the movable frame, sprocket-wheels, a chain passing between said sprocket-wheel and the corresponding one situated in line above, so that the chain travels bet-ween the guides of the cross-head of the first-named cylinders, a pawl actuated by the movement of said cross-head and pitman so as to engage the chain and advance it at each reciprocation whereby the crank wheels are rotated intermittently and the I pistons move within the cylinders, and pipes connecting the preliminary compression-cylinders with the supplemental ones whereby they operate in unison.

2. In a wave-motor, a float hinged at one end to a frame Vertically adjustable in a per-.

manently-fixed framework, said float having its outer end movable about its hinge or journal point, cylinders situated respectively above the movable end of the float and horizontally upon the movable framework,a cross- .head and slide connecting-the piston-rods of cylinders .is delivered to be further compressed by the second cylinders, a receiver into which the air from said cylinders is delivered, a vertically-disposed chamber fixed upon the permanent frame and a pipe slidable through stuffing-boxes at opposite ends of said chamber, said pipe having openings made through its sides within the chamber and connected with the compression-cylinders so that the air is delivered from said cylinders into a chamber, and a fixed convey: ing-pipe leading from said chamber to the ultimate receivers.

3. a In a wave-motor, a fixed framework, a vertically-movable framework guided and slidable therein, with a float fulcrumed to it at one end having the other 'end free to rise and fall bythe action of the waves, leverarms extending upwardly from opposite sides of the float, shafts journaled across the ends of the movable frame having pinions which engage with vertically disposed rack -.bars upon the fixed frame, pinions fixed upon said shafts and en gaged by rack-bars slidable upon the movable frame, slides movable in guides parallel with the rack-bars having locking:

pawls which engage teeth upon the upper sides of the rack-bars, said slides standing in line with the levers projecting upwardly from the float so that said levers will contact with the slides at one end or the other whenevertherise or fall in the tide correspondingly raises or depresses the float about its fulcrum-point,

and mechanism whereby the movement of said slides acts through the rack-bars to rotate the shafts and raise or depress the movable frame in unison with the rise or fall of the tide.

4:. In a wave-motor, a floatvhaving one end hinged to a vertically-movable frame and 1e.- vers extending upwardly from the fulcrumed or hinged end of the float, slides lying in the path of the oscillation of said levers, rack? bars extending parallel with the line of movementof said slides, pawls fixed to the slides and adapted to engage the upper surfaces of the rack-bars whereby thelatter are retained in position until the oscillating arms strike those at either one end or the other of its oscillation, inclined surfaces upon the slides whereby when such contact of the oscillating levers takes place the latching-pawls will be disengaged from the rack bars and other pawls engaged therewith so as to move the rack-bars, teeth upon the lower sides of the rack-bars engaging pinions upon shafts journaled across opposite ends of the movable frame, other pinions upon said shafts engaging vertical racks upon the fixed frame whereby the movements of the slides and rack-bars act to rotate the shaft and pinions so as to raise or depress the movable frame automatically and in unison with the rise and fall of the tide.

5. In a wave-motor, a float hinged or fulcrumed at one end to a vertically-movable frame, with the other end free to rise and fall, lever-arms extending upwardly fromthe hinged endof said float and movable with the oscillations of the float about itsfulcrumpoint, rack-bars connected through pinions upon shafts journaled across the ends of the movable frame,with verticall -*-disposed rackbars upon a stationary frame within which the first-named frame may be raised or de-' pressed, rack-teeth upon the top of said bars, slidable bars parallel with the rack-bars having spring-pressed pawls by which the slides are normally engaged with the rack-bars, said slides having their adjacent ends in the line of oscillation of the float-carried levers,whereby the rise or fall of the tide will cause the levers to contact with the slides at either one end or the other of their stroke, inclines upon said slides which are moved beneath the holding-pawls to disengage them when the slides are first struck by the levers, other pawls carried by the slides and adapted to engage and move the rack-bars after the disengagement of the holding-pawls whereby the rack-bars are caused to operate the pinions and raise or depress the movable frame in unison with the rise or fall of the tide.

6. In a wave-motor, a float fulcrumed at one end to a vertically-movable frame, astationary guide-frame, levers projecting upwardly from the hinged or fulcru med end of the float,

slides movable horizontally having their inner ends in the line of travel of the oscillating levers adapted to make contact therewith when the rise or fall of the tide causes the levers to swing a sufficient distance at either end of theirtravel,slidable rack-bars engaging pinions upon shafts journaled across the op posite ends of the movable frame, other pinions upon the same shaft engaging vertical rack-bars upon the fixed frame, whereby the rotation of said shafts and pinions acts to raise or depress the movable frame with relation to the fixed frame and the surface of the water, holding-pawls fixed upon the slides and engaging teeth upon the upper sides of the rack-bars whereby the latter are prevented from movement while the levers do not contact with the slides, inclined surfaces upon the slides which act to disengage the holding pawls from the rack-bars when the slides are first moved by contact with the levers, other pawls adapted to engage the teeth of the rack bar so as to engage it in unison with the movement of the slides, and hinged latches adapted to swing in behind the float-carried levers when the latter have commenced to move the slides,whereby the slides are withdrawn when the return movements of the levers take place.

7. In a wave-motor, a float hinged at one end and having the free end capable of vertical motion by the action of the waves or swell, main pumps having pistons and pistonrods connecting directly with the movable end of the float whereby the pumps are utilized to compress air, supplemental pumps into which the partially-compressed air from the main pumps is delivered wherein the air is further compressed, a coolingreceiver through which the compressed air is passed, a transfer-chamber upon the fixed frame, a pipe passing through stuffing-boxes therein adapted to rise and fall with the movable floatcarrying frame, said pipe having openings discharging into the fixed chamber and a pipe discharging from the fixed chamber to supplemental receivers.

S. In a wave-motor, a float hinged at one end to a vertically-movable frame with the other end free to be actuated by the rise and fall of the tide, main air-compressing pumps with pistons and piston-rods connected directly with the movable end of the float, supplemental compressing pumps and pipes whereby the air is led from the main pump thereto and is further compressed, a coolingchamber through which the air is passed from the supplemental pumps, a pipe lead ing therefrom and passing through stuffing-boxes at upper and lower ends of a permanently-fixed chamber whereby the pipe connected with the movable float-carrying frame is slidable within the main chamber without severing connection therewith, openings formed in the pipe interior to the chamber whereby the air may pass from the pipe to the chamber, a fixed pipe leading from the chamber to supplemental receivers, said receivers being arranged in series and provided with intermediate balanced press tire-valves.

t). The combination in a wave-motor of a rising-and-falling float with a plurality of aircompressing pumps, means for transferring the compressed air therefrom to permanent receivers, balanced valves interposed in the passages between the receivers, springs pressing upon said valves to close them against the passage of air from one receiver to another until the pressure in the first receiver has reached the desired tension, the valves being opened by any surplus pressure so as to equalize the tension between the adjacent receivers.

10. A series of receivers adapted to contain compressed air, passages and valves through which the air is transferred from the first to the last of the series, said valves having a spring-pressure whereby they'are kept closed until the tension within the first receiver has reached the required degree, balancing devices into which the aii.'-pressure from the following receiver is admitted so that only the tension of the spring must be overcome in opening the valve for the transmission of air from one receiver to the next following.

11. The combination of a series of tanks, and means for supplying the first of said tanks with compressed air, and pressurevalves interposed between successive members of the series arranged to be opened when the compressed air on one side of the valves has attained a definite pressure and admit air therethrough, whereby said tanks may be filled in succession by compressed air, substantially described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN ll. LEONARD. \Vitnesses:

Gno. II. Srnoxc, II. No'unsn. 

